In this week’s class presentation we are finishing the content outline for our survey format of Genesis with chapters 37-50, and we will get into the “Going Deeper” and “Where’s Jesus?” section of the format next week. In this class we are working on ways that will encourage students to study the Bible on their own, and gain insight by reading and researching for themselves. This survey practice will also complement our video lectures from Greg Koukl’s “Bible Fast Forward” series that can be found at str.org. You will find the class presentation notes below as well.
Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:
Presentation Notes
2024 A Case for the Bible: The Bible Fast Forward
Session Six: A Survey of Genesis, Chapters 37-50
Chapters 37-50
Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.
At your table groups, answer the following:
1. What are the 5 elements of the systematic approach to the Bible? (Extra credit if you know the systematic theology titles!)
2. What are the 12 major historical events of the Nation of Israel?
3. Recite the Memory Verse:
And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NASB)
(ANSWERS FOR 1 AND 2 REVIEW)
Topical (systematic) approach—5 elements
1.God—God creates the world and is therefore the rightful sovereign over all. Everything else (including all humanity) is under His authority.
2.Man—Man is made noble in God’s image, but rebels against his sovereign. Guilty of sedition and disconnected from his only source of life, man falls deep into slavery to sin.
3.Jesus—God becomes a man in Jesus. Jesus lives the perfect life of submission that man was meant to live.
4.Cross—Jesus dies on a cross and rises from the dead. He lays down His life to rescue man from his guilt and bondage.
5.Resurrection—At the end of history there will be a final resurrection of all men. Those who received God’s pardon will live with Him in Heaven and enjoy the perfect life He intended for them at the first. Those who continued in rebellion will be banished to Hell—a place of misery, darkness, and eternal ruin—forever.
These elements represent five key areas of systematic theology:
God (theology proper); Man (anthropology); Jesus (Christology); Cross (soteriology); Resurrection (eschatology)
HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
1. The call of Abraham
2. The birth of Isaac
3. Joseph in Egypt
4. The Exodus
5. Moses gets the Law
6. Joshua conquers the land
7. The three kings of the united kingdom: Saul, David, and Solomon
8. The kingdom splits: Israel and Judah
9. The Assyrian dispersion (of Israel)
10. The Babylonian captivity (of Judah)
11. The return to the land
12. The coming of Messiah
THE BIBLE FAST FORWARD – VIDEO LECTURE
Review and Reflection: Discuss the presentation with your group, and go over any questions you might have on the topics Greg Koukl presented.
BIBLE STUDY
Survey of the Bible – Format
We are using the following format each week to survey the books of the Bible. We have completed #1, #2, #3 and are completing #4 for chapters 37-50 today.
Old Testament
Category: Torah
Book: Genesis
| 1. Author: Who wrote the book and when? |
| 2. Audience: Who was it written to? |
| 3. Purpose: Why was it written? |
| 4. Content: Outline form – What are the major themes? (Chapter by chapter) |
| 5. Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book? |
| 6. Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus – appearances, foreshadows or prophecies? |
| 7. Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? |
| 8. The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book? |
FORMAT ANSWERS…
Last week we left off at #4 Content, after finishing Genesis chapters 12-36…
4. Content: Outline form – What are the major themes? (Chapter by chapter)
Joseph’s story
Chapter 37: Joseph shares his dreams; Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery
Chapter 38: Judah and Tamar – the birth of Perez
Chapter 39: Joseph is thrown into prison in Egypt because of Potiphar’s wife
Chapter 40: Joseph interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and baker
Chapter 41: Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream; Joseph is made a ruler of Egypt; Joseph has two sons
Chapter 42: The famine begins and Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt to buy grain; Simeon held
Chapter 43: The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin
Chapter 44: Joseph sets up his brothers and tests them with the threat of jailing Benjamin
Chapter 45: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and deal kindly with them
Chapter 46: God speaks again to Jacob; Jacob moves his family to Egypt
Chapter 47: Jacob meets the Pharaoh and settles his family in Goshen
Chapter 48: Jacob/Israel blesses Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh
Chapter 49: Jacob/Israel’s prophecy concerning his sons; Jacob/Israel dies
Chapter 50: The burial of Jacob in Canaan; final words of Joseph; death of Joseph in Egypt
My personal notes for each of the above chapters:
37. This is a transitional chapter in that we begin the story of the person of Joseph. Joseph is the 2nd to the youngest son of Jacob/Israel, and his favorite because he is the son of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel (who died giving birth to Benjamin, the youngest son). Joseph’s brothers are jealous of him because Jacob shows favoritism towards him, and even allows him to “check on” his brothers (they would probably consider it snitching). Joseph, in his youthful zeal, also shares his dreams of ruling over his brothers and them bowing down to him (which actually does come true later on!). In this chapter we see the culmination of this jealousy, as the brothers sell Joseph into slavery (instead of killing him like some of them wanted to do – notice, Reuben wasn’t there when it happened, so it would have been Simeon, as 2nd oldest, who was in charge). The brothers dipped the “cherished robe” of Joseph’s in an animal’s blood and deceived their father into thinking it was Joseph’s blood, and that he had been killed by a wild animal.
38. This chapter is a side story (another “R” rated), and seemingly out of place, because it is a story of Judah (inside secret – he is the seed carrier). Judah moves away from his family and starts his own with a Canaanite women (inside note this is part of the reason God needs to move the nation of Israel to Egypt and separate them in the land of Goshen – otherwise they would have started to mix [syncretize] with pagans cultures). This story is culturally based in that Tamar knows she should be taken care of by Judah after two of her husbands, his sons, die. But Judah does not do that, therefore she devises a plan to sleep with Judah himself after his wife dies. She then conceives twins and one of them, Perez will continue on that seed line to Jesus.
39. We return to the main narrative here, and we find Joseph, sold into Egyptian slavery, now under the under ownership of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and we are told that Joseph found favor with Potiphar and he put him in charge of his whole house and they prospered (notice how we can see God’s hand of protection on Joseph throughout his whole life story). But now, for a second time, even though he is innocent, Joseph is mistreated and accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife (note: many scholars believe that Potiphar knew Joseph was innocent and that’s why he had him thrown in jail, instead of killing him).
40. While in jail Joseph, again finding favor with the head jailor, is put in charge of the other inmates and affairs of the jail, and during this time God gives him the ability to interpret dreams – one for the cupbearer, which turned out favorably, and the other for the baker, which turned out to be his demise (scholars here believe that there was most likely an attempt on Pharoah’s life, and the baker was found responsible – both would have access to the food and drink the Pharoah had). So the cupbearer was restored to his duties for Pharaoh, but forgot about Joseph.
41. In this chapter, two whole years later, the Pharoah has some disturbing dreams, and none of his wisemen can interpret them. But now the cupbearer remembers Joseph and tells the Pharoah about his ability to interpret dreams. Then the Pharoah sends for Joseph, and after they clean him up [cause Egyptians were all about cleanliness and clean shaving], he appears before Pharaoh and interprets his dreams telling him they were about 7 year of plenty, and 7 years of famine. He also lays out a plan to avoid disaster for Egypt by storing up grain and food for the first 7 years to last during the 7 years of drought. NOTE: JOSEPH ALWAYS GIVES GOD THE CREDIT AND GLORY FOR WHAT HE DOES, HE DOES NOT TAKE IT FOR HIMSELF. Pharoah was so impressed with Joseph that he puts him in charge of the kingdom as second only to Pharaoh himself. During this time Joseph marries an Egyptian woman and has two sons whose name’s will be prominent in the tribes of Israel later on: Manasseh and Ephraim.
42. In this chapter we find the famine hitting hard in Canaan, and Jacob/Israel sends his sons (but not Benjamin) down to Egypt to buy grain. When they get to Egypt what happens? They end up bowing down (like Joseph’s dream) before their brother Joseph, whom they do not recognize, but he recognizes them. Joseph decides to test them and he treats them roughly and accuses them of being spies. They end up telling him about their family, and father and brother that did not come, and Joseph tells them to not come back unless they bring that brother – and he keeps Simeon with him in jail (note: many scholars believe Joseph kept Simeon because he was the one in charge back when they had wanted to kill him, but Judah suggested they sell him to the Midianite slave traders). It is also interesting to note that Joseph understood, and heard them, when they talked about their “sins” against Joseph in the past, and that this was their reckoning for that crime. But, we also see Joseph secretly taking care of them by returning their money which they found in their sacks, but they think it is part of the penalty from God, and Jacob at this point would not let them go back with Benjamin.
43. Now we find ”Israel” has run out of food and Jacob has to send them back to Egypt. But here we begin to see a change in character for Judah, as he steps up to assure his dad that he would be personally responsible for the care of Benjamin, and will later offer up his own life for Benjamin’s. When they get back to Egypt, Joseph brings them into his home and feeds them, sitting them in order of their birth, which amazed them (blew their minds how would he know?) Note: Joseph has to leave the room when he sees Benjamin because of the emotion he had – he then makes sure Benjamin gets 5 times the amount of food that the others got, and they are all astonished.
44. Everything comes to a head in this chapter as Joseph sends them off with grain and all the brothers intact, except now he put his personal cup in Benjamin’s sack. When Joseph sent his steward after them, he of course found the cup and arrested them. It is here we see that complete change in Judah where he recounts all of their family history and then states that he will take Benjamin’s place (a sacrificial substitute) so that the rest of the family could return home and their father would be ok.
45. Of course now Joseph could take it no more after seeing their repentant hearts, especially Judah (who was the one, in chapter 37, that suggested they sell him into slavery) and he sent all his servants out and revealed himself to his brothers. The brothers are in shock and fearful, but Joseph assures them in verses 7-8, by saying: 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Because Joseph was so favored by the Pharaoh, Pharaoh gave him wagons and provisions and brought Joseph’s whole family from Canaan to Egypt to be cared for during this time of famine, and of course Joseph’s father, Jacob is so unbelievably shocked when they tell him Joseph is alive, he almost faints. (This is how they ended up in Egypt and this how God is protecting them)…
46. In this chapter we find Jacob setting out with his family (and we get a genealogy of this young nation of Israel in verses 8-27) toward Egypt, but he stops in Beersheba and offers sacrifices to God, and God again speaks to him confirming the Abrahamic promise and protection in Egypt, verses 3-4: 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.” Notice the promise to return to the Land, and this will happen in the book of Exodus. At the end of the chapter we get the long awaited reconnection of Joseph and his faither Jacob. Joseph tells his family that they must say they are shepherds to the Pharaoh, and this will allow them to live in the land of Goshen, separate from the Egyptians, because shepherds are “loathsome” to the Egyptians (v. 34).
47. In this chapter Jacob arrives in Egypt and meets with the Pharaoh, and the Pharaoh allows them to settle in Goshen, and they prosper under Joseph and this Pharaoh. We also see the beginning of what appears to be a type of slavery and servanthood, as the people of the land, because of the severity of the famine, have to sell their land and themselves to the Pharaoh. At this point, 4/5 would be for them and 1/5 would go to the Pharaoh, but the Pharaoh was now considered the owner of the land. We are also told in this chapter that Jacob lived in this land 17 years, and that he lived a total of 147 years. Jacob made Joseph promise to take him back to the land of Canaan and bury him there.
48. In these last few chapters we have the final days of Jacob’s life and he gives a “prophecy” instead of the traditional blessing, although he does give Joseph double one for each of his children. This will change the way the promise goes forth; instead of a singular birthright/blessing, it now becomes the nation as a whole, although it will be through Judah that the seed promise will come. In this chapter we see the special time Jacob spends with his beloved son Joseph, and the blessing he gives them as well (we again see a prophecy in that Jacob blesses Ephraim the younger over Manasseh the older one, as God always knows what will happen, and does not just follow tradition).
49. This chapter gives us Jacob’s final words, prophecies, to each of his sons as they will now take on responsibility as individual tribes of Israel. We want to pay special attention to the prophecy given to Judah (and we will find throughout the rest of the history of Israel, that it will be the tribe of Judah that will survive the tests of time, til the coming of Messiah:
“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him up?
10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 “He ties his foal to the vine,
And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine;
He washes his garments in wine,
And his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 “His eyes are dull from wine,
And his teeth white from milk.
At the end of this chapter we read about the death of Jacob… (at age 147)
50. In this final chapter we read about the family of Israel taking Jacob back to Canaan to be buried in the cave of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah with Pharaoh’s blessing and elders of Egypt (even the Egyptians mourned the death of Jacob as he must have been well respected like Joseph in their eyes). The most important passage in this story, and I believe God wants us to understand this, is when Joseph’s brothers feared his retaliation now that their father had died, and they came before him saying “behold, we are your servants.”:
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Then the end of the chapter tells us of Joseph’s death and this would be the Segway into the book of Exodus:
22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Bible, The Bible Fast Forward!”
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15